It’s only been a few years since CBD soared in popularity, but it has not stopped grabbing headlines the world over. The reason is not farfetched: multiple studies have proven that it can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, and there’s now some evidence that CBD can even improve fitness. Keep reading to know how CBD for weight lifting works.
What is CBD? How Does it Work?
Fully known as cannabidiol, CBD is a type of cannabinoid found naturally in cannabis. Even though it comes from the cannabis plant, it is not psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t create a ‘high’ effect or any form of intoxication.
Most CBD products are extracted from hemp because of its low THC content (less than 0.3 percent), making it the ideal option for people that want the medicinal benefits of cannabis without its psychoactive high. This extract is then infused into different products like balms, oils, pills, and the popular CBD gummies.
CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body to trigger different effects. The ECS maintains the internal physical and chemical environment of the body. It is responsible for critical processes and functions like mood, sleep, appetite, reproduction, and fertility, etc.
Benefits of CBD for Weightlifting
Let’s review the benefits of taking CBD for weightlifting. I bet you haven’t heard of some of these crazy benefits.
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Assists in managing pain and inflammation
One often recurring troubles weightlifters have to deal with the burning sensation that ends immediately after the activity. It is typically referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and the pain may set in a few hours after your workout or up to a couple of days later. The soreness you feel is the outcome of forcing your muscles to work harder, which causes microscopic damage to fibers.
CBD helps to alleviate the pain and inflammation, so it doesn’t hinder your workout routine and ruin your fitness goals. Since the pain you feel is due to the transmission of signals from the affected area to your brain via sensory nerves, CBD helps block the pain, so you feel some relief. CBD can treat both nociceptive and neuropathic pain.
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Also, CBD helps to suppress the inflammation by reducing the amount of cytokine around the inflamed area while boosting adenosine signaling, both of which contribute to a significant reduction of inflammation.
Helps to get proper sleep using CBD for Weight lifting
Aches, pain, and inflammation are symptoms that most weightlifters suffer from, and they often mean that you are stretching your muscles. After your intense workouts, you need to sleep to recover from injuries and muscle strains, but this can be a problem for some weightlifters due to the numbing pain they feel.
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You don’t have to struggle to get a good night’s rest as CBD can help set you up for sleep. It achieves this by boosting the secretion of melatonin, a neurotransmitter that sends a signal to your brain to begin to wind down in preparation for rest.
The resultant effect is that your mind will become calm with minimal wandering thoughts while your body relaxes so you can fall asleep quickly. It may also increase your sleep duration as well the quality.
Reduces anxiety and mood-related disturbances
Any weightlifter understands the importance of focus and concentration during workouts. A person with an anxious mind will likely struggle to focus more. The person has to focus on physical training as mood swings, and anxious thoughts can be a big distraction.
CBD helps release stress and anxiety by regulating hormones like serotonin and cortisol so you can concentrate and focus on the activity at hand.
Enhances energy levels using CBD for Weight lifting
For an individual that carries weights, lack of energy can be bad news. Getting low on power can slow down your fitness activities and make it harder to hit your goals. However, the lack of energy is because of different factors such as poor diet, lack of sleep, exhaustion, and lethargy.
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Thankfully, CBD can help rev up your energy levels by improving the secretion of dopamine. This secretion of dopamine links to processes like motor control, motivation, reward, and cognition. It also enhances serotonin levels, which in turn helps you feel more energized.
CBD for weight lifting can improve nutrition
Another indirect way through which CBD is beneficial for weightlifters is that it can help ensure proper nutrition. It can also help boost your appetite (if you have no desire) so you can consume the right diet. You get the nutrients you need to perform well during a workout as well as maximize muscle synthesis after the training session is complete.
On the flip side, CBD can also help control your appetite, so you don’t get the urge to overeat. As explained earlier, CBD can achieve this because it interacts with the ECS, which works to ensure balance in the body. This situation makes it possible for you to maintain the ideal body weight.
Furthermore, some CBD products contain all the essential nutrients you need for your workouts.
Summary of CBD For Weight Lifting
One of the many concerns of fitness enthusiasts is how safe it is to use CBD for weight lifting. CBD is safe for use as it is not addictive neither does it have adverse side effects. So far, there’s no report that anyone has died from using CBD.
